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PESHAWAR, Mar 12 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday emphasized unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s development despite political differences.
He was addressing a consultative seminar on “Uraan Pakistan” held here at the Chief Minister’s House.
The seminar, hosted with the aim of promoting sustainable economic growth.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, members of the provincial cabinet, parliamentarians, and senior officials from both provincial and federal governments attended the seminar.
The Uraan Pakistan initiative focuses on five key sectors: Exports, Equity, E-Pakistan, Energy and Infrastructure, and Environment and Climate Change.
Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Gandapur stated that political differences would not deter the government from pursuing economic progress. He highlighted that the KP government is working towards sustainable development through financial discipline, infrastructure growth, energy capacity building, and social equity.
Gandapur revealed that the province achieved a budget surplus of Rs 169 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year and established a Rs 70 billion Debt Management Fund to reduce liabilities.
Highlighting investment achievements, the Chief Minister said that Rs 15 billion in private investment was secured for industrial zones, while Rs 200 million in loans were provided to entrepreneurs under the Insaf Rozgar Scheme, creating employment opportunities for over 137,000 individuals.
He emphasized that the KP government’s vision aligns with Uraan Pakistan’s agenda, as seen in the revival of industrial zones in Daraban, Rashakai, and Haripur, which attracted Rs 435 million in private investment.
Gandapur mentioned that the establishment of Software Technology Parks in Peshawar and Mardan has boosted IT exports, and mineral auctions have generated Rs 5 billion in revenue. Additionally, over 50,000 women-led businesses have been supported through interest-free loans.
The Chief Minister shared that 81,000 youth have been trained in engineering, digital skills, and technical fields, while over 500,000 students have benefited from the provincial education card program. The Sehat Card Plus scheme was also reinstated, providing free medical services worth Rs 30.4 billion to around 10 million families.
The government has facilitated the construction of over 200,000 new homes, promoted e-governance, and introduced digital initiatives such as Pamir, Digital Payment Gateway, E-Domicile System, and Digital Tax Collection System.
Gandapur also highlighted the distribution of Rs 550 million to support youth centers promoting positive activities and the provision of solar systems to 250,000 households.
He stated that 1,000 schools have already been solarized, with plans to solarize 8,000 more in the next year. Additionally, 4,000 mosques have been equipped with solar systems, with another 8,000 planned. Solarization is also underway for government offices, colleges, universities, mosques, and seminaries.
A Mining Cadastre System has been introduced, mapping over 3,000 mines and generating Rs 5.7 billion in royalties. The process of land acquisition for the 365-kilometer Peshawar-DI Khan Motorway has also commenced. The Chief Minister noted improvements in the BRT service, leading to a daily increase of 150,000 passengers. KP’s forestation program expanded forest cover by 12%, and food security projects worth Rs 25 billion have been initiated.
Gandapur expressed full support for Uraan Pakistan’s economic agenda but urged the federal government to ensure equitable funding for KP. He pointed out that under the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP), the federal government allocated only Rs 215.3 billion out of the committed Rs 700 billion since 2018, with only Rs 132.1 billion actually disbursed. For the current fiscal year, Rs 42.3 billion were allocated, but only Rs 6.35 billion have been released so far.
He further highlighted delays in fund disbursement for development projects in the merged districts, where Rs 27 billion were allocated but only Rs 9.41 billion have been issued. Gandapur called for immediate release of pending funds to ensure timely completion of these projects.
Regarding the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), the Chief Minister noted that only Rs 2.65 billion were allocated for KP’s seven projects worth Rs 36 billion, with just Rs 1 billion released to date. He criticized the unequal distribution of funds among provinces, stating that Sindh was allocated Rs 49.2 billion, Punjab Rs 7.10 billion, and Balochistan Rs 23.81 billion. He urged for increased allocation and timely disbursement of funds for KP’s projects.
Gandapur also stressed the importance of the Chashma Right Bank Canal project for the province’s food security, lamenting insufficient funding and lack of progress in constructing essential link canals. Despite a federal promise to allocate Rs 17.5 billion for the project, only Rs 2.5 billion were earmarked, and none have been released. He affirmed that the KP government is committed to contributing Rs 60 billion from its resources and has already released Rs 500 million for land acquisition.
In conclusion, Gandapur reiterated KP’s support for Uraan Pakistan but demanded fair investment and funding to ensure the province’s development. Despite political differences, he reaffirmed the province’s commitment to Pakistan’s progress and prosperity.